Community Innovation Lab 2026-27 is Live!
HIVE Pakistan, under its flagship Community Innovation Lab (CIL), is inviting applications for the Local Solidarity Fellows 2026–27.
This one-of-a-kind practice-based fellowship is for people who are already rooted in and trusted by their communities and want to strengthen community agency, collective action and locally led change.
Selected Local Solidarity Fellows will participate in a learning and incubation process, engage directly with their communities to identify priorities and co-develop responses, and become eligible for up to PKR 1 million per project to support community-led action.
You do not need a project idea, proposal or budget to apply. At this stage, we want to know about you, your relationship with communities, and why you want to become a Local Solidarity Fellow.
Register for online orientation session
https://forms.gle/UmQn4N8M9fp5ce7dA
Who Can Become a Local Solidarity Fellow?
We are looking for locally embedded individuals who have strong relationships, experience and credibility within their communities.
You could be an activist, researcher, community organizer, grassroots leader, social innovator, small business owner, youth leader, social worker, peacebuilder, or any other locally rooted individual committed to collective action and community-led change.
You do not need to represent an organization to apply.
How to Apply
Send us a 3-minute video pitch by 30th October 2026 via WhatsApp (03701842185) or email ([email protected]) and get a chance to win Local Solidarity Fund up to One Million PKR.
Pitches should follow a guideline for consideration which are explained here:
Duration: Max 3 minutes
Language: Preferably Urdu or English, but regional/first languages are welcome!
Your pitch should include:
● Who are you? (Full name, your regional background) – 20 seconds
● Community led work you have done (the community/communities you have worked with, the nature of community intervention, duration of work) – 1 minute
● What gaps you see in the work of social (NGOs etc) and public sector orgs – 1 minutes
● Why are you applying to this program? – 40 seconds
In case, you have important points to make and 3 minutes are not enough. Send in a text (not
exceeding 150 words) with the pitch.
Tips for a good pitch:
- Use a well-lit and quiet environment for recording your video pitch to ensure that you are clearly visible and audible.
- Consider using a tripod or stable surface to keep the camera steady and avoid shaky footage.
- Use a good-quality microphone to capture clear audio.
- Test the audio levels before recording to ensure that your voice is clear and audible.
Avoid speaking too softly or too loudly. - Review before submission to ensure clear video and sound.
Submit your pitch via:
WhatsApp: 03701842185 OR Email: [email protected]
While submitting your pitch, make sure to share the following details in text:
Name of applicant
Age:
Gender:
Contact: (Applicant’s phone, email, social media link if any)
City:
Additional information regarding your pitch, if desired.
Only shortlisted applicants will be informed, however, you can email us at [email protected] for additional queries.
What Happens After You Apply?
Video Pitch → Review → Shortlisting & Interviews → Finalist Selection → Learning & Incubation →
Community Consultation → Development of Community-Led Responses → Local Solidarity Fund
During the fellowship, Fellows will work with communities rather than on behalf of them.
Communities will identify and prioritize the issues that matter to them, explore their existing knowledge, practices, assets and capacities, and collectively develop responses.
The Fellow’s role is to facilitate this process, not arrive with a predefined project. We will work with the Fellow to document learnings!
Register for online orientation session
https://forms.gle/UmQn4N8M9fp5ce7dA
FAQs
Q: What defines a community?
A: A community can be a group of people connected by a shared place, identity, experience, interest or circumstance. This could include a neighborhood, village, occupational group, religious or ethnic community, group of persons with disabilities, youth community, or another locally connected group.
Q: How do I submit my pitch to the Community Innovation Lab?
A: Submit a 3-minute video pitch (details given above) to WhatsApp (number given above) or email (given above). Pitches longer than 3 minutes will not be considered.
Q: Do I need to fill out a form?
A: No forms required. Just send your video pitch via WhatsApp along with the following details as text:
Name
Age
Gender
Contact info (phone, email, social media)
City
Q: Do I need professional equipment to record the video?
A: Not at all! We prioritize content over quality. A smartphone-recorded video is absolutely fine.
Q: When will I work on the project development and budget?
A: Shortlisted applicants will undergo a hybrid learning, incubation process (online + in-person) and community engagement and consultation process to develop projects.
Q: What is the last date to submit the pitch?
A: 30th October 2026
Q: What is the thematic focus of the program?
A: The 2026–27 program focuses on solidarity – people coming together around shared challenges, taking collective responsibility, and using their knowledge, relationships and resources to support one another and create change.
Rather than bringing predefined solutions to communities, Local Solidarity Fellows will help create spaces where communities can identify and prioritize the issues that matter to them, build on their existing knowledge, practices, assets and capacities, and develop responses together.
The aim is not to do things for communities, but to strengthen their ability to act together through dialogue, shared decision-making and collective action.
Q: Who is eligible to apply?
A: Locally embedded individuals who possess strong relationships and credibility within their communities. They could be researchers, activists, community organizers, grassroots leaders, youth leaders, social workers, peace practitioners, women’s rights advocates, persons with disabilities, members of minority communities, and other locally rooted actors who believe in collective action and community-led change.
